Computations and experiments for a multiple normal shock/boundary-layer interaction

Results from a numerical investigation of a Mach 1.61 multiple normal shock wave/turbulent boundary-layer interaction are compared to wall static pressure and laser Doppler velocimeter measurements. The computations used the explicit, time-dependent, second-order accurate MacCormack scheme to solve the mass-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. Turbulence was modeled by means of the Baldwin-Lomax algebraic model and the Wilcox-Rubesin two-equation model. The computation with the Wilcox-Rubesin model was able to capture the major features of the normal shock train and accurately predicted the flow reacceleration mechanisms which occur between shocks. However, this computation failed to accurately predict the level of flow separation under the first shock. The Baldwin-Lomax computation displayed a more limited ability to capture the features of this shock train flow.